Goblins and Mermaids

Some interesting goings-on in Zimbabwe these days. 

There is apparently a thriving trade in male semen for rituals, so much so that gangs of women are picking up male hitchhikers, giving them sexual stimulants, raping them and collecting their sperm. Three sisters are currently on trial for such an offence. 31 used condoms were found in their car.

And schoolgirls in a southern part of the country are being attacked by goblins. "Parents say their daughters were attacked in classrooms by dwarf human beings which transformed into baboons." The girls are now quite reasonably refusing to go to school. "A goblin is a mythical creature, an evil spirit and there will have to be cleansing rituals at the school if the hysteria continues," said Dewa Mavhinga, a Zimbabwe scholar.

"Earlier this month, Sam Sipepa Nkomo, water affairs minister, said workers had run away from building a dam because it was infested with mermaids. "These mermaids are also Zvikwambo," Mr Mavhinga said." Zvikwambo is the local word that also refers to goblins. (http://tgr.ph/GL8GwE) 

A couple of years ago "A Zimbabwean mother killed her baby son and sold one of his ears for $20 (£13) to a Mozambican witch doctor, police have confirmed."